EPSO Update February 2024 : Navigating Uncertainty

Candidates were looking for information about the AD5 Generalist competition (which was postponed from October 2023, the new date is not yet decided) but EPSO is not disclosing any news, most likely because they themselves have not yet had any approved plans by their Management Board.



EPSO's Management Board is due to meet at the end of February, and perhaps some key decisions will be made at that time.

Meanwhile, discussions about EPSO's language policy are still going on. The aim is to have all exams in all 24 official languages, which can lead to a situation where none of the working languages may be tested or needed to be placed on the reserve list (e.g. a candidate can pass the EPSO competitions and be placed on the reserve with Czech and Portuguese knowledge but without knowing or having been tested in English, French or German). This raises questions about institutional preferences and a potential conflict between the legal/linguistic regime of the selection procedure vs. what EU institutions actually need. Despite potential benefits, such a move could inadvertently sideline certain languages, including French.

Big questions remain about EPSO's future: some speculate that it may become a mere shadow of its former self, solely handling specialist competitions. Conversely, others advocate for a prompt rollout of the AD5 Generalist competition, emphasising the need for EPSO to assert its role more decisively after its 2023 selection procedure reform.

In navigating these uncertainties, it's evident that EPSO faces challenges in defining its path forward. Whether it adopts a more assertive stance or continues to drift with prevailing winds remains to be seen. All the while, candidates eagerly, and many now impatiently, await clarity on EPSO's future trajectory and the possibility of securing a permanent civil service position with EU institutions.